Compensating winding gear for cameras



June 30, 1931. E. c. THOMPSON COMPENSATING WINDING GEAR FOR CAMERAS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed lay 16. 1929 INVENTOR. .Zgzyene 617720771 2;

A TTORNEYS.

June 30, 1931. E. c. THOMPSON 1,

GONPENSATING WINDING GEAR FOR CAMERAS Filed llfiy 16. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

ferred to as the sector rack henceforth, for the sake of convenience.

Arranged concentrically with the edge of the sector rack and suitably attached to the bed plate 1, is a cam rail 10, sloped at each end, as shown at 11 and 11' of Figs. 10 and 1, respectively. Adjacent the sloped end 11 and provided in the upper edge of the cam rail 10 is an elongated notch 12, sloping at one end 13, and vertical at the other, 14. Mounted immediately below the notch 12 and upon the cam rail 10 is a doubly pivoted detent 15 adapted to move vertically, as shown best in dotted lines in Fig. 10, and also in and out in a horizontal direction, as shown best in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The detent 15 is controlled by a single spring 17, so mounted as to afford tension both vertically and axially with respect to the detent rivet 18. The detent 15 is provided with a turned in nib 19 which, in turn, is adapted to be positioned in an opening 19 in the cam rail 10, and operate in conjunction with the ratchet teeth 9.

On the stud 2 is mounted a gear wheel 20, rabbeted to make space for a pawl 21 positioned upon a winding handle 27, and the rabbeted portion may be knurled for better engagement with the pawl 21. The handle or rotating cover plate is freely mounted'on the stud 3, and as will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 1, motion of the handle in one direction also turns the gear 20, by means of the engagement of the pawl 21, but reverse motion of the handle allows the same to move independently of the said gear. A pawl 22 mounted on the bed plate adjacent the gear further restricts the motion of the said gear in the reverse direction. The driving gear 20 meshes with an idler gear 23, and the idler gear in turn meshes with a pinion 24, which is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on a shaft 25. The shaft 25 is the usual winding key shaft of the conventional roll film camera, and carries a cross member 26 for engagement with the slotted end of a film spool (not shown).

The handle 27 is circular in shape and has mounted upon its'edge a bifurcated projection. 28. Pivotally mounted between the two legs of the said projection is a fold able thumb knob 29, being provided with a right angle projection or nib 30, which is adapted to engage a groove 31 in the cover plate when the knob is not being held upright by the fingers. The knob may be controlled by a small spring or the like (not shown).

Mounted rigidly with respect to the circular handle 27 by means of a screw 32, set in the pivot bolt 3, is a resilient latch 33. The

said latch is bent at right angles to itself at its outer end, forming a nib 34, adapted to pass through a registering slot in the handle 27 A cover plate 36 is formed preferably of metal, and shaped to conform to the contour of the depressed section of the camera wall, and is perforated, as shown at 37 in Fig. 2, for the passage of the pinion shaft 25. In addition, a circular portion 38 is cut out, over which the handle 27 is positioned. An opening 39 is provided in the handle 27 through which numerals marked on the flanged rack 5 can be seen.

In operation, the handle 27 is placed in initial position, that is, with the thumb knob 29 turned downwardly so that the nib engages in the groove 31, and the sector rack 4 is in inoperative position, shown best in Fig. 3. A fresh roll of film is placed in the cam era, in a manner familiar to all camera operators, the end of the paper protecting strip inserted into the receiving spool, and the camera closed. The circular handle 27 is then turned continuously in the direction which also turns {L6 gear 20, and as shown best in Fig. 10, the nib 34 of the resilient latch 33 rides up the slope 11 over an end 40 of the sector rack and falls into the elongated notch 12, thence rides up slope 13 and thence forward upon the top of the cam rail 10, sliding down the slope 11 at the other end of the rail and so on, until the film is in first exposure position. The number of turns and fraction thereof neclssary for this has been experimentally determined by the manufacturer. For the sake of example, the handle is turned three full turns, and then to a point where an arrow 39a registers with. a corresponding arrow 39?) indicated upon the cover plate 36.

As a precaution against error there may be stamped adjacent one arrow a 3+ indicating, for example, three full turns plus a fraction of a turn up to the arrow or any other convenient notation may be used. The handle is then turned backwardly, the pawl 21 slipping over the knurled edge 20 until the latch 33 climbs the end. 11 of the cam rail 10 and then drops into the notch 12, where it will engage the first tooth of the sector rack flange 5, and this rack is carried forward until the latch nib 34 of the latch 33 strikes the projection l l the end 410 being advanced to an initial stop position, as the sector rack moves forward. On removing the fingers from the thumb knob 29 it turns down so that the nib 30 engages the groove 31. The first exposure having been made, the thumb knob is raised, and the handle turned as far as it will go in the direction which will turn the gear 20, that is, until the latch nib 84: contacts the end 40 which is advanced step by step as the exposures are made andthe handle turned. The handle is then retracted as be fore, and the sector rack advanced another step, being held in each advanced position by the detent 15, that is, by the engagement of the nib 19 in the ratchet teeth 9.

Then the last exposure has been made the detent nib 19 will occupy a position, as shown l-"best in 9 tliat is, at the foot of the slope Y {%5: I As the' han'dle'is turned and :the latel1 nib 34 contacts the end: 4Q otigthefseetor gr-aek II {the 'det-entnib will no longenholdithe 'sector.

1-ack, biitwill climb the slope 35, iand will-ride along theshel'f betweemthe inne'r notehesof the teeth 9 and the sectonrack flange-5. The" latchni-b 34Iwill canrythesector platebacle;

{Ward until :it reaches :the iposition as shown in Figs; 3, 6 and when 'the dete-nt nib 'zfi) will drop'to the position asshown in Figs.

' v 1 "Itis apparent 3 I for '6 ,-an:d the latch inib 3 L will I 'cliinlo the projection 14, and allow continuous ltiirning of the handle, as I previously: described, me I allowingthewindingof the paper protecting I strip at the endofthe film'roll. hen this,

has been cornpletely Wound, as indicated by reduced resistancetoflturning, the handle .kn'ob29 isreleased and engages the groove 31, when the film roll-inserted;

1118111, wh-ieh' lenids itself ideally to a-ny'type roll 'filinicanierawith a niiniinumliainount of adaptation. flnfladdition, the device is positively operating and is of a cornpa-ratively economical des gn;

Ra e I do not wislrto be, limitedlto thespecifio form jsho'wn, butfwishf to avail myself of equivalent strujetiires' not shown" loy the prior -art.@- p -l elaiin as my invei'ition: I

' 11- In a compensatingwinding neehanis n adapted for 'n'se-in roll-film ca11ieras and; the

like,-the ooinbinationot a driving gear wheel and a pinion meshing therewith,- a crank, :a one-way clutch assoc ated withthe crank tor efiecting the rotationf-of the driving {gear I \vhen moved 111 one direetion la" en ging therefrom when moved "1 site ir'ecti i1; a piv mn mmmae e-ompen eating" member concentric with and movable independently of the gea r 'wheel {a jlflljfjll mechanism associated with: the cranlnjandl adaptedto engage the oo npensat ing niemher,

a stop, el-emnt on the compensating member; for restricting theniovement of it heprank to predetermin ed meals of a "full revolution, "anda earn rail adjacent theconipensating flineinber 'for contr-elling the latch in relation .to its %engagement1 vitlr;the .eonipensatingy inemben P v e a v 2. Inya compensatingwinding meoh-anism, a gear lwheel a 'crank and: one-Wayhhitoh associatedwith thegg ear' wheel; :nieans cooperating with the'ycrank for permittingIa pluof afull revolution, means for varying the rality complete revolutions lofs aid wheel, 7 means for l-imitingthe succeeding movements of the gear wheel to predetermined fractions sueeeeding'fractions of a' full' revolution relativeto each other, and Inean's'associated 'with the crank forlperrnltting'continuous may be' removed and anew Y i herein provided an I automatically compensated winding v nech'a I for dis eopporotary movementof theflgear wheel after said successive limited movements.

nation of I a ge ar wheel meshing with". a, pinion, a eranli' andioneeway lcln'tch associated with -p.ensati11g .nieniher whichv is provijded a withaa In a compensating .vvin'dingj nechanisni for rolllfihn cainerasiand the l1ke,"the.con1b1- h the gear wheel," means cooperating? with the v emnkgtor permitting it to Irotatethegear iwheel continuously vinIone direction, said a i crank also carryingea resilient latch, ailcom I stop forengagement'with the-latch, said :come I crank latch in empirically spaced-steps so as to limit the movement of the crank to prede- -pensati11g jmeniber 'beingtpivotally; mounted I i "and adapted to be, stepped 'forward by the v j v :terin ined.individual fractions of a full-rev se] olutionto compensate forthe increasing di aineteraof the roll as a film is 'WOUDdWOII-H compensating lnernher, and; cam rail "for placing thestop in operative position after aiilin has been brought'to first exposure pos I tion by a predetermined number of. revolue tio'ns-of the crank, cooperative means as o oiatedxwith the-crank;compensatingmember; 12 4.

position immediately after the last :expos1 re, j allowing the crank and g'eargwheelriw he i and detenjt, for placing the stopin inoperative Continuously rotated. g

for permitting- :co-ntinuoi'is rotation of the gear; wheelin one d1rect1on,-* a ;.pi;v0tally L. Ina;compensatingv Winding-mechanism fforlroll filni camera's andftheqlike the combinati'on of a'gear wheel meshing witha pin ion, crankandi-onerway clutch associated therewith, -means cooperating with the crank 'mounted,stop memher'adapted:to stepped anie'ter ofthe rolllasthex'fihnis \voiind'on Jber, a'cam'rail adjacent the periphery of the stop nieinloer adapted to control the engage! ment of the crank latch withlthe stop member;

a detent pivotally mounted so ias to he -1novable b0th vertiz callylandaxially withrela V tionztohitsipivotspin,:saiddetent being adapt? .ed to oontrolgtheposition vitae stoplmemgj b'e'r, leooperative ,rneans associated jwith ithe 1- w Crank, stop membenand carn'rail ior 'plac ,i I ing'ithetstep "member in operativeiposi-tion l lsure, position by pfedetemnined numbergof forward: infempirieally spaced steps; so as tolimit the :Inovement of'thecrank to prede-' 1 'terinined individual fractions of. a full revzolution and co Inpensate foiythe in'creasingdiarec eiving spool, aresilient lateh associated. with the crank tor actuating'the stop. mem W revolutions of the crank, cooperative means associated with the crank, stop member, and detent for placing the stop member in inoperative position immediately after the last ex posure, allowing the crank and gear wheel to be continuously rotated,'means for locking the crank against accidental movement when not in operation, graphic means associated with the stop member for indicating the number of successive steps imparted to the stop member, corresponding to the exposure positions of the film.

5. In a compensating winding mechanism for roll film cameras and the like, in combination, a normally inoperative compensating member adapted to be placed in operative position and advanced step by step for a predetermined number of steps, comprising a sector plate member pivotally mounted, carrying on its peripheral edge a plurality of ratchet teeth the retaining surfaces of which are vertical. to the plane of the plate, except the last tooth, the retaining surface of which is sloped, and cooperative therew'th a detent pivotally mounted so as to be movable both vertically and axially with relation to its pivot pin, means for automatically releasing said detent, and means for automatically returning the compensating member initial and inoperative position.

6. ,In winding mechanism for roll film cameras and the like, the combination with mechanism for turning a film spool, of a driving gear, operating connections between 2 first mentioned mechanism and the driving gear including a one-way clutch, for rotatii'ig the gear continuously in driving direction and to disengage therefrom when moved in reverse direction, means including a cran latch member, a normally inoperatfie coin,- pensating member movably mounted, and having associated therewith a. stop for engagement with the cranlnlatch when the compensating member is in operative posi said compensating member being so fell-*- as to be stepped forward in empirically spaced steps to compensate for the increasing diameter of a film-roll, as it is wound on a receiving spool, means adapted to control the engagement of the crank latch with the con pensating member, means for retaining the compensating member in it uccessive poaitions, cooperative means associated with the crank and compensating member for placing the compensating member in operative posi tion after a film has been brought to firstexposure position, cooperative means asso ciated with the crank and compensating member for returning the latter to inoperative position to allow the crank and gear wheel to be continuously rotated.

7. The structure claimed according to claim'6, further characterized with means for lacking the crank against accidental movement when not in operation.

fractions of a full revolution, and means for controlling the crank-latch member in relation to its cooperative engagement with the compensating member.

9. In compensating winding mechanism for roll-film cameras and the like, a normally inoperative compensating member adapted to be placed in operative position and advanced step by step, comprising a sector plate pivotally mounted and carrying a stop member, said sector'plate lltlvlll a plurality of ratchet teeth the retaining surface of each tooth except the last being right-angled, the last tooth being sloped, and a resilient detent cooperative with said ratchet teeth pivotally mounted as to be movable both vertically and axially with relation to its pivot pin.

10. In a compensating winding mechanism for roll film cameras and the like, the combination of a driving gear, a crank and associated clutch adapted to rotate the gear continuously when moved. in one direction and disengage therefrom when moved in the opposite direction, a pivotally mounted segmental compensating member concentric with and movable independently of the gear wheel, said member carrying a stop adapted to engage latch mechanism associated with the crank for restricting the movement of the crank to predetermined fractions of a full revolution, and an arcuate cam rail adjacent the periphery of the segmental compensating member for controlling the crank latch in relation to its engagement with the segmental compensating member.

11. In a compensating winding mechanism, a gear wheel, a crank and one way clutch, means permitting a plurality of continuous revolutions of said gear, means for limiting the movements of the crank and gear to predetermined fractions of a full revolution, and means for varying the succeeding fractions of a full revolution relative to each other.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EUGENE O. THOMPSON. 

